MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1932, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

OLD MAN’S DEATH MAORI YOUTH ACCUSED. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WHANG AREI, June 27. Heta Fred Gardner, a quarter-cast Maori, aged 16J, was brought before the Court to-day on a charge cf murdering George Crew, need 713, at l’uatangata, on or about .May 27tb. The evidence of a neighbour, Duncan AlcDirmid, was that the deceased wars found dead in bed in his lint with his head smashed in evidently by an axe, wlrij'h was standing against the table alongside the bed. Witness’ visit to the hut was made in consequence of the deceased not having been seen for some days. Severn, witnesses related their knowledge of the accused’s movements prior to. the tragedy.

A Kirikopuni farmer Chas. John Burnett, for whom Gardner had workfer for some time, identified a horse as one which the accused admitted having taken on May 25th,

William Hodge, owner of the property adjoining Crew’s, said he passed His horse near, the School, half a mile from Crew’s, The same afternoon he saw' a Maori boy come from Oiw’t hut. •

George Johnston, .a native lad, identified the prisoner as the hoy he had met carrying a sugar bag and offering to sell a gun to him.

Other witnesses in the same locality al:o deposed that Gardner tried to sell them a gun. Constable McKay stated that the accuser] came to the Police Station at 7.300p.m., on May 27t1i., with a man named Page, who had lost a watch, aiql said he knew something about it. As be said he had had nothing to eat all day, the constable took him to a restaurant, and subsequently to a boarding house. He (took possession of two fifties tins of cigarettes, a black leather purse, and a watch. Nothing Avars known of the murder at this time. Constable Beasley said that on the afternoon of May 28th., before he was aware of the murder, he took Gardner to a spot where lie said he left a swag. Among the contents was a gun, which the accused said he had got from an old man’s hut at Rautnngata. Gardner was left with the Chairman of the -•-aori Council at Otaika on the understanding that he would later appear at the Children’s Court. Later in the afternoon, the murder was di-covered, and the police went to Otaika, and awakened and handcuffed the accused, who was conveyed to the Police Station, 1 where llff* afc'.'Mdmght Accused was taken to Detective-Ser-geant Robertson’s office, and interviewed by. the Detective and • Inspector O’Ham.

. AU.'this stage the hearing was adjourned till 9 o’clock to-morrow morn, ing.